VIDEO: 35 killed, 30 injured in Syria bus collision

Thirty-five ​people ⁠were killed and ‌30 injured in ‌a collision between two passenger buses on ‌the Deir Ezzor-to-Damascus road, a health ⁠ministry official told state news agency SANA on Saturday.

The collision involved a bus carrying members of the Internal ​Security Forces and a ‌civilian passenger bus, SANA reported, citing the interior ministry.

The interior ministry said one of the buses was carrying a number of security personnel.

Defence ⁠Ministry helicopters helped evacuate the injured and recover the bodies, ​transporting ‌them from Palmyra ‌airport to a military hospital in Homs, SANA said.

Foreign Minister ‌Asaad Al Shaibani ‌offered condolences ⁠to the families of ‌those killed and wished the injured a ⁠swift recovery.

One of the buses caught fire, complicating rescue operations due to the proximity of the nearest hospital being 50 km away. The Damascus-Deir Ezzor highway is known for frequent accidents.

According to state television on Saturday, at least 35 individuals were killed, and around 30 others were injured in the crash on a highway in a desert region near Al Sukhnah in eastern Syria.

The channel reported that 35 fatalities and 27 injuries marked the initial casualty count from the collision between two passenger buses on the Damascus-Deir Ezzor highway, situated between the areas of Al Sukhnah and Palmyra.

People and rescuers inspect the damage at the scene of the collision of two buses in Palmyra areas. AFP

The Ministry of Interior reported an accident involving a bus carrying Internal Security Forces personnel and a civilian bus, although the number of casualties among the forces was not specified.

Complete Burnout of One Bus

Media outlets indicate that one of the buses involved in the accident was transporting passengers, primarily from Deir ez-Zor Governorate. The collision resulted in one of the buses being entirely consumed by fire.

Challenges in Rescue Operations

Sources note significant challenges in evacuation and rescue efforts due to the nearest medical facility being located approximately 50 kilometers from the accident site.

First responders inspect the damage at the scene of the collision of two passenger buses on the Damascus-Deir Ezzor road on Saturday.

The Syrian Civil Defence teams, under the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, responded to the incident following a report. Teams were dispatched from the Palmyra center with additional support requested from Deir Ezzor centres to aid in response and rescue operations.

Urgent appeals have been directed towards government authorities to deploy helicopters or aircraft designed for medical evacuation. This request is crucial for transporting the injured to hospitals, considering the seriousness of some injuries and the ongoing challenges in conducting rescue operations in the desert area.

The road from Damascus to Deir Deir Ezzor regularly experiences traffic accidents, a situation often blamed on inadequate road infrastructure and the high speeds at which some drivers travel.